Joy Lyn’s Candies reopens in Paradise
Local staple’s comeback is yet another sign of rebuilding success following the devastating Camp Fire.
Joy Lyn’s Candies was set to open at 10 a.m. Thursday, but the line started as early as 9 a.m. and forced the business to open earlier than anticipated.
“Today is super exciting, it’s been a long time for us,” owner Glenn Hartley said. “It’s like the first day of school. You’re all dressed up, you get to see all your old friends, get to see your new friends. It’s unbelievable.”
Hartley said that the first customers started coming in at 9 a.m. despite the store opening time set an hour later. The local staple’s reopening was another sign that Paradise is rebuilding from the devastating 2018 Camp Fire.
“It’s what the town needed, some normalcy,” he said, adding that Deb
bie’s restaurant opening is also a good indication of the town’s recovery. “A lot of us have grown up going to Debbie’s for breakfast and getting a Joy Lyn’s Easter Basket for Easter. It’s just part of growing up in Paradise.”
The store was bustling all morning with resi
dents from all over to pick up their favorite chocolate treat.
“It’s absolutely amazing to see this,” Hartley said. “I didn’t want to call it the grand opening because we’re still waiting on cabinets; there’s a shop to be finished out. I didn’t want to push the opening back
again. I didn’t want to do that to people again.”
The store’s location at Pearson some Road right across the street from the park is perfect for the town’s new vision, ParadiseChamber of Commerce PresidentMark Thorp said.
“It’s centrally located
near the Community Park, which is the proposed center of the town,” he said. “This is kind of the anchor — setting this in place and then starting to look at the hardened structures that they’re proposing, is sort of pushing all towards the park.”
And it wasn’t just regular customers that were dropping in, other local business owners who have returned to the Ridge went to the store.
Vince and Christina Clarkson, who own Hudson‘s Appliance right up the street from Joy Lyn’s stopped by to pick up some treats.
“It’s just the community coming back together, Joy
Lyn’s had good footprint n Paradise,” Christina said. “People knewwho Joy Lyn’s was — just seeing them come back is good for the community feel.”
Vince said they been watching the store progress to its opening.
“She loves the chocolate covered Oreos,” Vince said of his wife. “Driving by it every day, we just couldn’t wait and I know that they have some hurdles to get through so it’s good to see them open.”
The store is located 220 Pearson Road and on Saturday, award-winning illustrator and author Steve Ferchaud will be signing copies of his latest creation “My Name isHaley and I Live in Paradise …” from 11 a.m to 1 p.m. Along-ide Ferchaud will be “Haley” the inspiration for the book’s main character.